Spotting Concealed Use of Marijuana in Schools

Marijuana abuse is usually brushed aside by many adults, because it is considered harmless, and it is often thought of as a rite of passage. However, abuse of marijuana in school can lead to several complications. It can quickly become a lifelong habit, and it can even lead students to experiment with other drugs. Marijuana is addictive, and it can impair users. With so many young students experimenting with this drug, many teachers struggle with identifying signs of drug use. But, proper training can help teachers identify and eliminate this harmful habit from students’ lives.

Identifying Marijuana Abuse in Schools

With so many students in school, it can be quite challenging for teachers to recognize which students experiment with drugs. However, knowing what to look for can make the job easier. Marijuana is usually consumed as a dry, shredded leaf, resin or marijuana oil. The resin is usually known as hashish or hash, and it is found in the form of flat cakes. Hash oil is brown or amber, and it is sold in bottles. When looking for marijuana abuse in schools, you should be looking for bags of green or brown leaves, bottles with brown liquid or chunks of brown substances. Other signs of marijuana abuse include paraphernalia that students might have stored in their bags or lockers. Commonly used paraphernalia include cigarette rolling papers, smoked ends of hand-rolled cigarettes, vaporizer pens, water pipes known as bongs and smaller glass pipes.

Signs of Marijuana Abuse

School staff members can also be on a lookout for intoxication. The most common signs of marijuana abuse are bloodshot eyes, increased appetite, memory impairment, increased heart rate, sleepy appearance, dilated pupils and any items that display marijuana abuse. Students that abuse this drug may often wear jewelry or clothes with marijuana symbols on them.

Students that are high on marijuana may also act sluggish, giggly, dizzy or silly, and they may appear to be off-balance or uncoordinated. Students that are still new to marijuana abuse may display panic, fear or anxiety in certain situations, especially when they know they are being monitored. When a large dose of marijuana is consumed, users may also display delusional behavior, paranoia and signs of hallucinations.

Marijuana Help in Schools

Use of marijuana in schools can be particularly destructive for students, because it impairs their ability to learn, solve problems and think. It makes students listless and uninterested in school work, so it makes it difficult for them to get the education they need. Marijuana intervention in schools is important, because it may help students understand the consequences and long-term repercussions of addiction.

If you detect signs of marijuana abuse in a student, then call us today on our 24 hour, toll-free helpline for valuable information on marijuana interventions and professional help. You can help someone recover with the proper assistance.

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